Pets

The magic messenger

Here in the southeast, the rainy season re-enters, a time when the sky remains bright and cornflower blue, but November leaves the rain on the trees in fiery hues and hues. That night the temperature drops below freezing, the trees slowly fall apart, the night shrouded in a blanket of silence, too cold for the strumming of crickets and tree frogs.

* * * * * * *

On Monday morning, Savannah Monroe opens the front door to run out onto the porch, grab the newspaper, and scramble back into the house before the fresh air saturates her robe. Instead, find a calico kitten rolling around with the paper, tackling it like a soccer ball, chewing on the rubber band.

“Hi, honey,” Savannah says, kneeling slowly, forgetting about the icy breeze. “Who do you belong to?”

The kitten leaps to his feet, meows loudly, and runs over to Savannah, flopping down on his slippers. As he strokes his matted fur, he estimates the kitten to be six weeks old, part of a wild colony that lives in the overgrown terrain at the end of the street.

“Bet you’re hungry,” he says, feeling the kitten’s ribs peeking out of his caramel and ivory coating.

Suddenly, a low growl intensifies behind Savannah as Thoth, her Maine Coon, discovers the reason for the open door and the cold breeze swimming through the living room. Before she can stop him, Thoth pounces on the kitten, who scurries like a white mouse under Savannah’s robe and into the house.

Hearing the howls, Horus descends the stairs and helps Thoth corner the hissing kitten under the kitchen table, while Savannah closes the door and runs.

“Back off, boys,” she says to Thoth and Horus, gently pulling the cats aside so she can crawl under the table and rescue the trembling kitten. “Let’s clean you up a bit,” he says to the kitten, as he tries to hide in his arms.

Walk to the sink and turn on the tap. The warm water flows over the kitten in her hand like a grapefruit. Her shivering begins to subside, as Savannah gently soaps an organic flea shampoo around her eyes and ears, right down to the tip.

At just six inches long, the kitten is standing on the counter nibbling on a piece of kibble while Savannah bites into her wet fur with a dish towel. By lifting the tail, it determines that the kitten is male. Turning it over, he finds no sign of fleas, but one eye blinks red and crusty. Savannah mixes a warm goldenseal tea solution and washes both eyes, a trick she learned from her best friend, Ravena Riley, a veteran of wild cat rescue.

“When I get the chance, I’ll call Ravenna,” he muses. “Maybe she can find a home for you.”

* * * * * * *

Take the kitten to the bathroom with a bowl of cat milk, not trusting him alone in the house with Horus and Thoth. After Savannah showers and dresses for work, the kitty follows her into the office, where she immediately dives into the open pocket of an unfinished purse.

“Oh no you don’t!” he exclaims, laughing, as he grabs an empty reel of tape to distract him.

Savannah’s Magickal Handbags specializes in expensive handcrafted purses with magic spells. She founded the company ten years ago by accident, when she couldn’t find an attractive but functional bag for her job as a personal assistant to a fashion designer in Atlanta. Frustrated, she created her own, which caused a stir the first day she brought it to work and generated several requests from co-workers and friends.

Within a year, she had fattened her savings account and gathered a long list of handbag wholesale and retail clients. He quit his job and moved to the mountains of eastern North Carolina, a part of the country he had always wanted to explore. Savannah had finally realized her dream of having a successful design business in the fashion industry. Sales increased every year, as did the prices of her bags.

She then met Greer at a trade show, the publicist for a national chain of designer boutiques. Their marriage only lasted three years, long enough for Savannah to realize that the quiet man, who made her laugh with his unconventional sense of humor, was actually a depressed and angry person. She left when she got tired of his chameleon nature, when she realized that his irate mood wasn’t her fault, no matter how verbally abusive Greer became, no matter how often he accused her.

She is now thirty-five years old, divorced, and living in South Carolina, the place where she first met Ravenna. Back then, her bags were being sold at craft fairs throughout the Southeast rather than high-end boutiques, department stores, and gift shops. Ravenna’s booth had stood next to hers at a craft fair nine years ago in Columbia, one of Savannah’s first craft fairs, and she had marveled at Ravenna’s skill in sales, feeling as green as the grass underneath. from your stand. Rather than ignoring a newbie, Ravena befriended her and offered her lots of tips to increase sales, which worked and made the program profitable for both women.

Savannah knew without a doubt that the Goddess had put this Wiccan sister in the Office in her path that day, and they have remained best friends ever since. It’s no wonder Ravenna suggested that Savannah move to South Carolina after her divorce, encouraging her young friend to start over on friendly ground.

Last month, Savannah arrived with Horus and Thoth, rented a house in Irmo, just a mile away from Ravenna, and began to repair her altered self-esteem, trying to get out of the huge hole that had been opened in her heart by a abusive marriage.

“So the last thing I need is another man in my life,” she whispers, putting her work aside long enough to find the kitten sleeping peacefully on a pile of scraps of cloth. A smile lights up Savannah’s face and she laughs softly. “Even if he’s cute like you.”

* * * * * * *

But you can’t ignore the feeling that this kitten came into your life for a reason, as if one of the fairies you communicate with every day whispered in your ear. Too distracted to keep sewing a row of old lace into a new bag, she walks into the living room toward her altar. Horus and Thoth sit by the sliding glass door, gurgling with the leaves that rain down from the oaks and elms, wagging their tails, imagining that each could be a sparrow or jay that they could chase.

Savannah opens the magic box containing her Wiccan tarot deck. Bast, the Egyptian goddess of cats, sits next to him, her serene feline face watching and waiting. Go back to the office and place the platform on the work table.

But before I can cast a sacred circle for a reading, the doorbell rings. Ravenna is standing on the front porch, the warm breeze fanning her long blonde hair in a linen cape, three small braids threaded, each tied with ribbons and rune charms, a basket of cat toys rolled over her arm.

“Weather station predicts a peak today in the 1980s.” Ravenna shakes her head. “It must be from South Carolina!” He walks through the door and hands the basket to Savannah. “These are for your new kitty,” he says, winking.

Savannah gasps. “How did you know?”

“I am a witch, remember?” Ravenna folds up and then laughs. “Seriously, I saw it on the tarot cards this morning.”

At that moment, the kitten storms out of Savannah’s office, dancing like a Samhain cat, and lunges under the couch.

“I can see the cards were fine as always,” says Ravena, flopping into a cushioned chair, as Savannah sets the basket on the coffee table and pulls the kitten out from under the couch.

“I’m glad you’re here anyway, since I can’t keep this kitten,” Savannah says, placing him next to the basket, which he dives into, fighting a catnip mouse. “I was hoping you could find him a home.”

Ravena ignores Savannah’s comment and picks the kitten up onto her lap, where it begins to purr loudly. “What do Thoth and Horus think of this little guy?”

Savannah shrugs and stretches out on the couch. “You know cats. They are never happy with a newcomer.”

Ravena scratches the kitten’s chin and he closes his eyes in ecstasy, his snowy throat rumbling. “You should call him Re, in honor of the Egyptian Sun God,” he muses, “because of his ivory skin and the Light he brings to this house.”

“The last thing I need is a new man in my life.” Savannah groans. “You know it better than anyone.”

“Yes,” Ravena says, her jade eyes twinkling, “but we all need Messengers of Light from the Goddess and the Fey.”

Savannah groans and waves her hands in surrender. “Okay, I give up,” he concedes. “What did the letters say?”

Ravena picks up the kitten and kisses its pink nose. “Do not reject this Messenger of Light,” he says quietly. “It could be a good fortune fairy in disguise.”

Real Estate

Eleven key attributes of a good property manager

Property management is a career profession. The industry enables job growth, continuous learning experiences, and the opportunity to work with diverse individuals and income groups. The property manager can work directly for a real estate owner or for a property management company, hired by an owner or legal entity to take care of the real estate for a specified period of time.

The property manager has a fiduciary relationship with the management company and the owner. A fiduciary relationship is one that is based on mutual trust and total trust in each other.

The property manager is provided with an owner’s portfolio of real estate to manage in its “highest and best use” in exchange for a contract of employment or salary. Property manager real estate assignments include apartment buildings, condominiums, hotels, storage facilities, shopping centers, office buildings, government-subsidized properties, boarding houses, abandoned buildings, and vacant lots, to name a few. .

I have managed almost all of the above property types for over twenty years. I have managed public and private housing, for non-profit organizations, for the federal government, and for private developers and real estate investors. I also owned my own property management company for eight years. Now I teach, speak and write about property management standards and techniques. Here are some crucial skills, which I know from first-hand experience, that must be accepted as required attributes and learned skills to be a good property manager.

1. You must know and stay up-to-date on local ordinances and state laws

Administrators must carry out their work in accordance with the laws of the country. The government (municipal, state, and federal) dictates how real estate will be managed, from applying for a real estate license (depending on the state) to using the real estate (such as rent control laws). From the proper disposal of garbage to how and where we should keep security deposits, the manager must keep abreast of the many legal requirements of real estate management. If you make a mistake or forget a task, it could cost the homeowner their property and / or the reputation of a management company, loss of account, or even loss of real estate licenses.

2. You must be highly ethical and honest

Property managers work on the Honor Code when handling other people’s money. By collecting rent, security deposits, washing machine money, etc., the property manager maintains a fiduciary relationship with the landlord and / or management company. The owner entrusts the property with thousands of dollars each month, plus the value of the real estate itself. The manager is hired to perform at the highest level of integrity. On a daily basis, the good judgment of the property manager and a sense of what is right and what is wrong is put into play.

3. Must be organized and detail-oriented

Managers collect rent on a daily basis and must ensure that each rent is paid and posted to the tenants account as received. Financial records are kept detailing each and every rental transaction, either through rental cards or on the computer. Lease expirations and renewals, rent increase letters, and rent invoices must be mailed on time. The lines for court appearances must be maintained and clients must receive their monthly written report of operations. A trained property manager can multitask, keep site files organized, and prioritize repairs and assignments.

4. Must have good communication skills

Managers must be able to communicate with people from all walks of life, cultures, ethnicities, and personalities. Managers need to be able to articulate their cases in front of judges, speak with the landlord, negotiate with providers, and properly speak to tenants, who are often frustrated, upset, or angry. A good manager must be able to remain calm and communicate in a professional manner. Familiarity with speaking in other languages ​​is always an advantage.

5. Must have good computer skills

Computer literacy is a technical skill, like driving, typing, etc. The use of email, mail merge and computer faxing are at the heart of property management today. This is especially true if the property is in a part of the city or state, and the central office is far from the site. If a manager does not have a strong command of the computer and its basic programs, such as Microsoft Word and the Excel spreadsheet, he may have a difficult time finding an administrative position in this field.

6. You should like working with the public

If everyone paid their rent on time for the fifth day of each month, the manager would not have to work to collect the rent. If a property never had problems, such as toilet overflows, lost keys, or faulty smoke detectors, the property manager would have little to do. Therefore, it is important that a manager enjoys dealing with people with problems. A manager should at least like to help tenants with dignity and in a responsible manager. If you don’t like being interrupted several times a day with a dilemma to solve, this type of work may not be for you.

7. Must be patient and have a sense of humor

There is some pressure when working with the public. There are days when nothing seems to be going right, and if your head hurts that day, it could be a long period from 9 to 5. A calm personality or a good sense of humor will go a long way in property management. If you tend to be very nervous, anxious or angry or impatient while working to tight deadlines or with people in trouble, you may want to reconsider taking on this profession.

8. You must like to read and do research

There are many types of leases, agreements, forms, and other legal documents that must be signed between the tenants, the manager, government agencies, the site attorney, and / or the landlord. Government and real estate regulations change; the manager must be willing to read about them and keep up to date. The documentation must be read and verified before it is sent to the tenants, agencies, the landlord, etc. If you don’t like reading to keep up with the latest trends, legal and industry changes, and terminology used, you won’t be able to do your job right.

9. Must have a strong sense of duty and commitment

Ensuring that the tenants under their control are treated with respect, have heat and hot water, are not subjected to or commit illegal activities or disruptive behavior by their neighbors, are some of the obligations of the administrators. Tenants depend on the manager’s sense of obligation to the property and the families or professionals who live there. The manager may not always have the funds to do everything all the time, but what can and should be done, such as keeping the building clean and having a sense of urgency to finish work in a timely manner.

10. Must have a flexible mindset

Property management is a fluid profession, as it follows the economic, governmental, industrial, and social changes that affect the way a property is managed. Managers who still like the “good old days” of mistreating tenants and causing rental applicants to jump through unnecessary hurdles to get an apartment (or otherwise, by not checking anything), will find themselves out of the question. contact, and perhaps misplaced. job. The ability to accept changes in the law, obey fair housing laws, have a positive, or at least neutral, attitude towards people who are different, and above all, be open-minded, is a key element of a successful manager.

11. Must be an excellent follow-up person

A manager can never assume that a repair or rental payment plan will take care of itself. Our mantra is: “Follow up, follow up, follow up!” This is one of the most critical skills of a good property manager. The ability to multitask, keeping multiple balls in the air without dropping any of them, is challenging and sometimes difficult. The ability to multitask successfully often pays off both financially and in promotional decisions.

Shopping Product Reviews

The Dream That Will Never Die: Dreamcast Independent Gaming in 2016

I still remember the day I found out that SEGA was discontinuing the Dreamcast. It was early 2001 and the PlayStation magazine I was reading (we used to read magazines back then) was covering the demise of the Dreamcast before quickly moving on to the hits of the PS2. Thanks to those successes and the massive preference for PlayStation over the previous generation SEGA Saturn, Sony had pulled SEGA almost single-handedly out of the console business leaving them to focus on software only from that day forward. With the Dreamcast surpassing a meager 9 million and the turnaround in sales and the PS2 reaching the dizzying heights of over 150 million units sold, the Dreamcast was destined to be little more than a footnote in the pages of history. the games.

If you had told me that day in 2001 that we would still be seeing new games released for the Dreamcast quite regularly in 2016, I would have simply smiled and nodded while slowly backtracking. And yet here we are fifteen years later and SEGA Dreamcast has a surprisingly vibrant community of indie developers still releasing games despite the fact that SEGA has had little to do with the console (other than fixes) since the early ’90s. 2000s. So if you still have one of those nifty white boxes tucked away in the attic somewhere, or even if you’re just looking to get into retro gaming for the first time, there’s probably something on the horizon worth checking out. . .

Although it’s only been a month into 2016, Dreamcast has already seen the release of an exclusive console game at Leona’s Tricky Adventures. Inspired by the Amiga Gem X puzzle game, Leona assigns the player to increasingly, erm, complicated puzzles based on colors similar to the Lights Out handheld game from the mid-nineties that you might remember. Leona’s Tricky Adventures is available for purchase as you read this on Steam, but the Dreamcast version comes with a full case that includes illustrations. Which is obviously much better.

Looking ahead, the long development of Elysian Shadows is scheduled to hit the streets sometime in 2016. After reaching public awareness through a series of YouTube development videos in 2007, and following a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2014, Elysian Shadows is an RPG with customizable characters, a dynamic day / night cycle, and an engaging 2D / 3D hybrid art style. Set in a fantasy world similar to that seen in the classic JRPG Final Fantasy VI, Elysian Shadows tells a story of conflict between religious fanatics who received magical powers from The Creator and atheists forced to rely on futuristic technology. While there isn’t a solid release date yet and the game’s development has had a couple of snags recently, developer GyroVorbis contends that the title will be released in 2016, and who are we to argue?

Scheduled for June this year, Alice Dreams Tournament is a 2D Bomber Man from French developers Alice Team. Players must navigate 2D mazes using their bombs to clear paths and destroy other players on the stage, while searching for power-ups to increase the number of bombs they can drop or the damage their bombs do when detonated. The game features a robust multiplayer mode that includes seven different game types ranging from standard deathmatches to more elaborate modes involving math puzzles.

Hypertension: Harmony of Darkness is a horror first-person shooter that started as an extension of the Blood franchise, but morphed into its own story as development progressed. After some disputes with Atari due to Blood assets being used in the production of Hypertension, as well as a brief cancellation of the project due to that, the development of Harmony of Darkness has progressed and the game is expected to see a release in sometime in 2016.

Hucast Games is looking to release Redux 2, the sequel to its remake of the scrolling shoot-em-up DUX sometime in 2016. Pre-orders for the game are now available and there is a stylish collector’s edition that includes a soundtack CD. and a DVD of extras if you’re willing to pay for that kind of thing. The vanilla game features seven all-new stages and a two-player cooperative mode for players who like to do their arcade shooting with a friend in tow. If you’re a fan of R-Type or other such ship shooters, Redux 2 might be a game worth keeping an eye on.

If you’re looking for something a little more out of the ordinary, away from 2D shooters and puzzle games, then Dreamcas t’s indie scene can satisfy your needs with a title like SLaVE by Isotope and Jay Townsend. SLaVE tries to combine the garish aesthetics of 80s arcade games with the addictive first-person shooter of titles like Doom and Wolfenstein. If the flashy color scheme and first-person shooter punishment bothers you, then SLaVE might be a game for you. However, if you are interested in it, you may want to move quickly; The game is planned to be an ultra-limited edition with no more than 484 copies of the game destined for release.

SEGA abandoned the Dreamcast in the face of stiff competition from the Sony PlayStation 2 after just two years on the market, but there is a community of dedicated independent developers who simply refuse to move on. It has a cult following who are still churning out new content fifteen years after the console’s commercial demise. Since the console’s discontinuation in 2001, more than thirty independent titles have been released, including Sturmwind, Rush Rush Rally Racing, Wind and Water, and Gunlord. So maybe next time you’re in the attic and see your old Dreamcast tucked between a Furby and a Spirograph, consider digging it up, dusting it off, and seeing what the old lady can do in 2016.

Sports

3 numbers retired from OHL’s Sudbury Wolves

The Ontario Hockey League franchise now known as Sudbury Wolves has been firmly planted in that northern Ontario city since the 1972-73 season. The franchise started as Barrie Flyers in 1945 and moved to Niagara Falls to become Niagara Falls Flyers in 1960.

Since moving to Sudbury, the team has been to the Robertson Cup final only twice and has yet to win an OHL championship. Probably the best year in Lobos history came in 1975-76. The team was first overall, winning the Hamilton Spectator Trophy, and reached the Robertson Cup final before losing to eventual Memorial Cup champions the Hamilton Fincups.

The Sudbury Wolves have retired just three jersey numbers between 1972 and the present. All three played on that Wolves team from 1975-76. All three went on to long careers in the National Hockey League with two of the three playing more than 1,000 games in the NHL.

Randy carlyle dressed number 6 during his three years with Sudbury. The defender played with the Wolves from 1973-74 to 1975-76. In that last season, he added 79 points from the blue line in 60 regular season games.

The Toronto Maple Leafs liked what they saw and selected Carlyle in the second round of the 1976 NHL Amateur Draft. Randy played 1,055 regular-season games in the NHL between 1976-77 and 1992-93 with Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins and Winnipeg Jets. In 1980-81, as a member of the Penguins, Carlyle received the Norris Trophy as the best defender in the NHL.

Randy practically dedicated himself to a coaching career after retiring as a player. He won a Stanley Cup as the head coach of the Anaheim Ducks in 2007 and is currently the head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

As Carlyle stared at the blue line, number 10 Ron Duguay he was providing an offense. In 1975-76, Duguay added 134 points in 42 goals and 92 assists in 61 games. Ron’s 92 assists were mostly assists in Rod Schutt’s 72 goals. Both the 92 assists and 72 goals remain today as team records in a single season. What is puzzling is that Sudbury has not recalled Schutt’s number either.

Ron Duguay played four years with Sudbury from 1973-74 to 1976-77. After his final season, the New York Rangers selected him thirteenth in the 1977 NHL amateur draft. Duguay played nearly 900 regular-season games in the NHL between 1977-78 and 1988-89 with the Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins and Los Angeles Kings.

Number 17 Mike Foligno He was in his rookie season with Sudbury in 1975-76, but he still made a major contribution to the team’s success. Foligno played four years with the Wolves from 1975-76 to 1978-79 and was captain of the team in his final season. In 1978-79, Mike scored 65 goals and assisted in 85 for 150 points. The point total today remains a single-season team record for the Sudbury Wolves.

Mike was the third overall pick in the 1979 NHL draft, going to the Detroit Red Wings. Foligno was drafted only behind Rob Ramage and Perry Turnbull and surpassed Hockey Hall of Famers Mike Gartner, Ray Bourque and Mark Messier. Mike played just over 1,000 regular season games in the NHL between 1979-80 and 1993-94 with the Red Wings, Buffalo Sabers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers.

Foligno returned to Sudbury for the 2003-04 OHL season and remained as General Manager and Head Coach for seven seasons. In 2006-07, he led the Wolves to their second appearance in the Robertson Cup final. This time, it was the Plymouth Whalers who denied Sudbury a trip to the Memorial Cup.

Tours Travel

Authors: their words have the power to transform, influence and change minds

“From everything I’m seeing, it seems like their main focus is writing and marketing books.

What has got you so excited about this right now? Brian Basilico, host of the It’s Not About You podcast show, It’s About Bacon, asked me during a recent interview.

“Now more than ever, we are at a truly critical time in our world and words have the power to change lives. I am committed to helping so many authors spread their message in a big way,” I replied.

This was the start of a lively conversation between Brian and me.

The main point I wanted to convey during the interview is this; Regardless of whether you write books, blog posts, articles, or post your thoughts on social media sites, words have power.

It is a critical moment

At this time, more than ever, authors must step up and be willing to transform readers with their words.

As an author, are you willing to write your truth? Are you willing to take a position that CAN change lives? Are you willing to stop hiding?

In my interview with Brian, I shared why writing is so important to me and the clients I work with. If I can help a transformational writer get his message to market, I have done my job.

To have this ability, it is essential for me to come out of the shadows. I must write about what is important to me. I must also be willing not to let other people’s judgment of me stop me in any way, shape, or form.

Case in point

With everything that is happening around Charlottesville, Virginia, some of us are unwilling to remain silent. The following is a post I recently posted on Facebook.

The vast majority of people distinguish between good and evil.

They know that there are evil and dangerous people. Many are speaking out against this evil, while others sit quietly, not wanting to move the ship. The boat has to be shaken!

Here’s the deal …
On Tuesday, August 15, 2017, President Trump tried to disinfect the stench of hatred surrounding a deadly white nationalist rally in Virginia, calling armed protesters carrying torches and dressed in Nazi clothing as “very fine people” seeking protect your history.

Let’s be very, very clear. Any Nazi is NOT a very good person. No way. They are evil, dangerous, and are not welcome anywhere. They are teaching their children to hate and trying to infect the world with their poisonous nonsense.

Growing up, my mother shared stories of what it was like to live in a Nazi-occupied country during WWII. As a teenager, she grew up knowing the evils, first hand, of wondering if her home would be bombed, her friends taken to the camps (yes, there were many of her Jewish schoolmates who, from one day to the next, witnessed disappear), his own family under threat of going to the camps, and his uncle being beheaded by the Nazis for working in the underground resistance. Every day my great-uncle did what he knew was right at the risk of losing his life, until one day he did it.

Many people are speaking as we watch horrors unfold in the United States and around the world. However, many are making judgments when they do not see others step forward … or so they think.

In reality, we don’t see everything our friends do. If you don’t see people standing up for what is right and fair, don’t assume it isn’t.

My dear friend, Audrey Joseph is involved in San Francisco with organizing a march. In his own words: “ATTENTION! You have spoken and I agree that the counter-demonstration should take place at the Civic Center at the same time on August 26. Later, but be prepared to have your voices heard, to speak in against intolerance and hatred “. “

If you’re not on Audrey’s thread, you have no idea what she’s doing. And yet Audrey is the kind of woman who moves the boat, talks, organizes, and does so with such passion, power, and perseverance. She will not be silenced. He will not let hatred prevail.

Don’t assume because you haven’t seen what people are doing in the wake of escalating hatred that they aren’t doing something. Don’t judge what you can’t see.

There are a lot of people at grassroots work doing a lot.

Instead of judging the level of participation of others, we should all ask ourselves: “Are we keeping silent for fear of being judged and politically correct?” To hell with political correctness. Our voices must be heard.

Are we offering solutions or are we waiting for others to create the solution?

There is absolutely no time to wait and wait for this to go away. Each, in their own way, must be willing to stand up and be heard.

*** End of publication on Facebook ***

do what you can

In fact, everyone, in their own way, can do it. Each one, in their own way, must do something.

Words have power. Words influence others. Words make a difference.

Are their words heard, seen and read? If not, why not. Don’t wait for permission. Take a step forward and be counted.

Arts Entertainments

Usher Raymond Height

Wondering how tall the popular superstar is? Have several photos with other celebrities made you curious about their height? This article will explain how tall Usher Raymond really is.

Usher Raymond’s artist name is Usher. He was raised in Texas and was born on October 14, 1978. Usher has sold millions of songs and is one of the most famous R&B artists of all time; He has over seven albums and began his music career in 1992. He also helped raise Justin Bieber and is an entrepreneur with his own record label. One of his best albums was called Confessions and had the highest first week sales for an R&B artist in history.

Many people have seen Usher alongside many celebrities, especially tall like Barack Obama, and it made people want to know how tall he is; He looks diminutive compared to Obama, who is 6’1 “. Usher only looks slightly taller than fellow musician Justin Bieber, who is around 5-foot-4. The celebrity has never revealed his actual height, so experts They have tried to predict his height with the help of photos taken with celebrities with known heights. The bottom line is that Usher must be around the 5 “7.5 range (five feet seven and a half – 8 feet. This is a few inches smaller than the 5 ft 9/5 ft 10 average of most Americans).

Many people say that he doesn’t look that short in his music videos and other ceremonies, but compared to other people of different heights, he seems shorter.

Technology

The need for social marketing in 2013

The past year was eye-opening in many ways for the entire IT industry. It saw Dell fall from grace, BlackBerry phones transformed into pariah devices, Apple lost Steve Jobs, but its iPhone 5 emerged as the leading mobility device of 2012, and more. But the highly publicized story that turned out to be a flop was the launch of Facebook, the social networking site, on the NASDAQ. In a few months, Facebook’s stock is trading below its IPO price and its earnings statements, which were made public recently, didn’t help matters. In the face of criticism about the way Facebook places advertising on its pages and the questionable ability of such PPC campaigns to target specific user groups, social marketing lost some luster in 2012. In fact, many development companies software chose to go down the path of placement. Instead, Google PPC ads to improve web traffic and attract a wider group of potential customers. The key reasons many companies pursue social marketing are as follows:

Strengthening customer relationships

Through social marketing, most companies in a variety of industries, from software development to automobiles, seek to establish closer relationships with customers. In this case, Social Marketing provides businesses with an instant and low-cost method to connect and build stronger ties with their chosen customer groups by providing special discounts, limited-period offers, etc.

Improve brand preference and brand awareness

For existing customer groups, this form of marketing can play a key role in enhancing preference for the advertised brand. This helps increase repeat customers and improves the brand image as well as the bottom line of the company. Furthermore, this marketing system can also enhance brand awareness among specific user groups to improve the overall visibility of a product / service, by enhancing and establishing interaction between various customer groups.

Improved information exchange between stakeholders

An additional benefit is the ability of this format to facilitate an improvement among the various stakeholders of the company. These stakeholders include customers, suppliers or partners, even if the company is a software developer abroad or is engaged in providing quality assurance services. This form of marketing enables stakeholders to instantly convey their changing requirements to the business almost instantly. This improvement in communication would help companies adapt more quickly to their business environment and gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

Increased revenue through new clients

This form of marketing can act as a key method of acquiring new customers, as well as breaking into new niches. In addition, improvements in information sharing with the organization’s key stakeholders can also play a key role in designing new products, as well as driving innovation in organizations to improve the overall market position, even if the company operates in the field of Java application development or mobile application development.

These are key reasons for companies to invest in social marketing, yet questions about the ability of existing social media sites to actually deliver these benefits for the company to improve its bottom line has been criticized in 2012.

The future of social marketing

Any illusions that social marketing on its own can propel a business forward has dissipated in recent years. In 2013, we can expect the integration of social marketing within the scope of additional marketing initiatives such as PPC advertising, TV advertising, etc. Like any other trend, this emerging marketing is expected to evolve and be incorporated into other marketing initiatives commonly undertaken by organizations to acquire new customers, expand their reach, and enter new markets.

In the years to come, we can also expect increased use of various social media optimization techniques to help companies focus such marketing efforts and target desired market segments to maximize profits. The proliferation of smartphones, tablets and related mobility devices is also expected to result in the development of mobile applications, which aim to enhance the social marketing initiatives of various companies, especially those operating in the SME segment.

Home Kitchen

Structured and textured cabinet doors

Structured and textured cabinets are essentially the opposite of high-gloss cabinets. Instead of smooth and shiny, these are rough and matte. Consequently, it gives the doors and drawers a more natural look and feel. While high gloss is still fairly common in kitchens and bathrooms, when one is trying to achieve a more organic design, one tends to go for a door with more texture or structure.

Over the years, structured and textured cabinet doors and drawers have become commonplace in modern kitchens and bathrooms. The beautiful textures add movement and depth to a bathroom or kitchen without being too loud.

In addition to structured and textured cabinets, contemporary style is also represented by cool colors, a relaxing atmosphere, stone surfaces and elements inspired by nature. The ultimate goal is to combine charming ambience and beautiful appearance with practical functionality.

Building a nice 3/4-inch closet box that is sturdy enough to be taken apart and taken with you if you move house is becoming standard in the European market. If you have a nice safe, with high quality hardware from a company like Blum, and some nice structured and textured cabinet doors without handles. So you have an excellent base for creating a very luxurious feeling kitchen (no handles, I mean finger push doors or magnet push doors).

In addition to structured and textured cabinets, some of the most popular finishes today are gray oak, white lacquer, cedar, and stone. Finishing details and furnishings are simple and use clean lines.

Cool tones seem to dominate the vast majority of modern kitchens. They have a very simple and contemporary look and can help you feel calm and collected.

Clean cabinet lines can work wonders. Cabinets can be designed in such a way that they fully integrate with the wall. Employing a tool like textured cabinets gives one the ability to stay within the modern style.

Some of the more trends we’ve been watching these days are large windows, unusual shapes, handleless cabinets, and an open floor plan. An open floor plan is the highlight. This design gives one the ability to flow throughout your home more easily and is therefore more conducive to a social setting. In addition, this design allows the people who cook in the kitchen to interact with the rest of the people in the house.

Auto

The most economical form of personal transport: the scooter

Actually, the cheapest personal transportation gadget is the pedal bike. You could even say that’s not correct, the skateboard is. Granted, there’s no discussion there, but when it comes to motorized vehicles, few will argue that scooters make the most economical sense for a personal vehicle. Until they can make a two-seater even cheaper, the scooter is king of the road.

Defining what cheap means

In the world of motorized driving, going cheap can have different meanings. Compact cars have gotten cheap in the sense that they are the most affordable 4-wheelers on the road these days. Searching for unknown brands online can be considered very cheap as they want to enter markets dominated by major automakers and having the lowest tag price may be your best option.

But scooters are a completely different breed. While generally classified as part of the motorcycle or 2-wheeler, scooters have long remained a short-distance racer reserved for children and women who commute within villages on a daily basis. The size of their engine, which does not exceed 250cc, ensures that they will remain the most affordable means of transport. That’s what it means to be cheap.

Fuel efficiency at its finest

Not only are scooters the cheapest personal transportation, but you can also enjoy the best mileage between 60-100 miles per gallon, depending on the model. The raw money savings are too dramatic to ignore. People have known that the scooter is a sensible way to get to their destination since it became commercially available after WWII with Italian Vespa scooters.

The Japanese brands Honda and Yamaha extended that to a wider market around the world starting in the 1960s. They had developed a good following for short-distance commuters and they have never diminished in terms of appeal. . But with the technology that remained, they often use 50cc 4-stroke engines in a lightweight body that accounts for much of their fuel efficiency.

Now that pump prices are reaching their all-time highs with the threat of a decline in fossil fuel sources, the scooter has made a more welcome return. As early as 2005, scooter sales have soared to record levels. Even before, countries like India and China have done so with millions of people traveling their main roads every day.

It now has Indian, Taiwanese, Korean and Indonesian automakers gaining a share of the scooter markets. You can hardly go wrong getting any brand as long as the right after-sales technical support is available.

Digital Marketing

Time to start marketing your manufacturing business on the internet

There are many manufacturing companies that get most of their business through word of mouth, loyal customers, and partnership agreements. For this reason, it’s critical to consider expanding your reach and take a look at online marketing.

Manufacturers who leverage content to promote their brand / business online are able to attract new potential buyers, retain current ones, and, at the end of the day, get more sales.

Ways in which a manufacturing company can come into play:

Develop thought leadership

A manufacturing company must be recognized by visitors as an authority in the industry in order to have an effective marketing campaign. They must bring innovative ideas and trusted expertise to benefit them.

To achieve a reputation as an industry leader and visionary, the company needs to engage its audience by hosting / sponsoring a webinar, creating and maintaining a blog, posting product knowledge / training, and participating in various industry events.

Use SEO and pay-per-click ads

A highly developed marketing strategy that includes keywords, PPC ads, and SEO will make the business website easy to find online by your target market.

There is a trend for manufacturers to benefit from targeting customers in particular regions where they have locations and distributors. They can take advantage of this opportunity by using region-specific landing pages and then driving traffic to them with the help of SEO keywords and paid ads. This way, every time customers search for your type of manufacturers in their area, your business will appear.

Have content posted constantly

Valuable content is critical to online marketing and lead generation. When a website has a constant stream of quality content, it ensures them a high rank in search engine results and enhances the company’s position as an industry leader.

When writing content for the manufacturing company, they should consider showing that customer needs are fully understood, providing beneficial solutions, and delivering authoritative and timely information to stand out.

Humanize the brand

One of the most effective ways to get ahead of the competition is to humanize the brand. Consumers feed on the cold corporate marketing of manufacturers’ websites. Most of them want something more, they want more value and commitment.

That said, manufacturers should connect more with their customers by showing their human side. This can be accomplished in a number of ways, for example a campaign titled “Meet the Team” where you can display photos of company officials, along with stories about your passion for manufacturing.

Market products / services with virtual tours and videos

These are new and novel ways to interact with potential customers and showcase your products / services.

They may consider adding instructional, safety, and behind-the-scenes videos showing how the products were made.

Any manufacturing business should also include customer testimonials as well as case studies to further prove its value.

Retain existing customers

In addition to getting new potential buyers, online marketing can retain existing customers. Manufacturers can create email campaigns especially for existing customers and use them to offer special discounts, end-of-the-year gifts, high-quality content, and helpful resources to help achieve their goals.